Some Ryanair pilots based in Dublin have voted to strike (Image: Chris Radburn/PA Wire/PA Images)

Ryanair currently operates multiple routes out of Stansted Airport to destinations on several continents.

A spokesperson for Stansted Airport told the News: "The strike doesn’t affect Stansted-based Ryanair pilots, and only 84 directly employed pilots out of the airline’s 360 Dublin-based pilots were balloted for strike action."

Now the IMPACT trade union has confirmed that the strike will go ahead - and they've warned that if no agreement is reached, then there could be further strike days.

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The dispute comes after Ryanair refused to recognise the European Employee Representative Council (EERC) or IALPA, and therefore refused to engage with discussions of pay and working conditions, unless these are through 'employee representative councils' under management.

It's worth noting that not all of the Dublin-based pilots will be on strike, as IALPA only represents those directly employed by the airline (Ryanair often hires pilots through third parties).

However, the majority of these are captains, without whom the planes can't be flown, so it's a major problem for Ryanair who are likely to face a series of disruptions to their schedule as a result.

The strike will take place next week (Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire)

Not to mention that Dublin is one of their biggest bases - and the lead-up to Christmas is one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

In a previous statement addressing the ballot vote result, Ryanair had hinted that participating pilots "will lose their favourable rosters (five on/four off, a double bank holiday every week) and remuneration benefits that are specifically linked by agreement to dealing directly with Ryanair".

However, this hasn't deterred Irish pilots from announcing the strike - and unless an agreement is reached between both sides, it could mean even further disruptions for travellers.

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IMPACT official Ashley Connolly said Ryanair was the only Irish-based airline that refuses to recognise independent pilot representatives.

"This dispute is solely about winning independent representation for pilots in the company.

“Management’s failed negotiating model has let down shareholders and tens of thousands of passengers, whose flights were cancelled this year because company-controlled industrial relations proved incapable of recruiting and retaining enough pilots.